NCSEA statement on HB589

NCSEA supported the original version of House Bill 589, which passed the House on June 7, and was the result of an extensive, 9-month-long stakeholder process and negotiations. This legislation would have been a bipartisan compromise that was overall good for consumers, industry, and utilities. Unfortunately, the final negotiations that occurred late last night between the House and Senate on HB 589 became tarnished with the inclusion of an unnecessary 18-month moratorium on the permitting of wind projects through December 31, 2018, which was ultimately sold to legislators without any urging from the military. We are very disappointed with this outcome and are determined to take immediate steps to lessen this blow to our growing and diverse clean energy economy – and, by extension, all North Carolina consumers and business investors who would have otherwise certainly benefited from additional wind energy development. NCSEA is working now to ensure all participants in the stakeholder process leading up to this disappointing vote take action to remedy this reckless adoption of an otherwise strong policy.